Fruit handling machine



oct. 31', 1939. H', F. wATKlNs 2,177,967

FRUIT HANDLING MACHINE' Filed June 1, 1937 v s sheets-sheet 1` '/0 43 ill 5514/ 22 '1f-.- ff/ /7 l/6/5 /9 4V.

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` 54 I HIVENTORl j] l 67 j 2%570/0/ /f/a//n BY w@ M y I v ATTORNEY.

Oct. 31, 1939. l H. F. wATKlNs 2.177.967

FRUIT HANDLNG MACHINEA Filed June 1, 1937 s sheets-sheetv 5 Y ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT 4oFFlci-z FRUIT nANnLmc mom Harold F. Watkins, Oakland, Calii'., assignor to Watkins Fruit cisco, Calif.,

Machinery Company, San Frana corporation of California Applieaumiune 1, 1937, serial No. 145,765

s claims.

.5 fruit.

' The subject matter disclosed herein is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 673,585, illed May 31, 1933.1'now Pat- A ent No. 2,040,114, granted May 12, 1936, also co-pending application Serial No. 43,852, led October 7, 1935, now matured into Patent No. 2,147,870, and co-pending application Serial No. 119,971, iiled January 11, 1937.

Automatic machines for extracting juices from citrus fruit must necessarily embody some means for gripping halved articles of the fruit, and ior applying the same upon rotating burrs or like juicing means. In the past, the fruit gripping or handling devices employed for carrying out such operations, haveV been unsatisfactory in many respects. For example they have not held the fruit in such a manner as to minimize breakage of the peel during a juicing operation, with the result that the peel ing operation to be ineicient and uncertain, and peel oil is introduced the grip afforded has `tive for proper application of the fruit to the rotating burrs, and even if a relatively positive I grip is afforded, the peel can not be quickly and positively released after a juicing operation, with the result that peel is often retained by the fruit handling devices to render the` machine inoperative. Furthermore the type of fruit handling devices utilized in the past have not been capable of handling a variety of sizes of fruit, without careful alterations or adjustments to the machine. Permissible speed of operation is also a vital factor in such devices, and in the past the y speed of operation has been limited, 'with the result thatv the -capacity of such automatic machines has not been as great as desired.

It is an object of the present inventionto provide a type of fruit handling device which will 1 overcome the diiiiculties outlined above.l More specifically my fruit handling device makes possible tight gripping of an article of fruit, during transference and application `of the article oi!v fruit upon a rotating burr. The fruit is held in such a manner that breakage of peel is reduced to a minimum, and a maximum amount of juice is extracted. Following the juicing operation the peel can be readily expelled from the device, without tendency of the peel to become caught upon the device to clog themachine. device avoids piercing of the peel with fruit engaging elements, which together with peel breakage, causes-undesired peel oil to be intermixedvwith the desired `fruit juice. My device also' permits relatively .high speed operation, commensura with the speed with which other breakage causes the juicinto the fruit juice. Also not been sufiiciently posithe machine can be carried out.

Further objects and features oi the invention will has been set forth in detail the accompanying drawings. Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view,

functions oi.'

illustrating a 4pair of fruit `handling devices, incorporating the present inlo vention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail, illustrating the `manner in which one of my fruit handling devices can be mounted in a fruit jicing machine.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. r

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail,

showing more clearly the construction of my manner 4in which Fig. is a front view o1' a modified-form oi'` rubber liner having ribs.

Figs. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional details taken at right angles ofthe ribs shown in Fig. 10.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a pair oi fruit handling devices or cup assemblies `incorporating my invention, have been designated generally at i0, and are mounted in conjunction with or as y a part of a pair of turret-like assemblies Il. Other elements illustrated inv Fig. 1 are parts of a complete -fruit handling and chine, as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial-No. 119,971, iiled January 11, 1937. I'hese elements include a pair of rotating burrs i2, a fruit centering cup or cone I3, and a fruit severing knife i4.

'Ihe cycle of operation ofthe complete majuicing maopposite directions through angles o! 90, and devices I then again projected to force the halved articles of fruit upon lowing this juicing operation cups I0 are again retracted, and the turret assemblies Ii again swung through angles of 90, back to their orig- -v inal positions illustrated in Fig. 1

A suitable detailed construction for each turret assembly II, is illustrated in Fig. 2, and corresponds to the type of assembly disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 119,971, nled January 11, 1937. Thus the assembly consists of an outer shell I6 provided with a liner I1 to form the cylinder I8. Fitted within this cylinder there is a piston I9, which is secured to the inner end of a hollow tubular member 2|. The forward end of the tubular member 2| is provided with a, closure disc 22, and is also adapted'for the mounting of the fruit engaging device or cup assembly III, as will be presently explained. The tube 2| is guided for reciprocation by the guide bushing 23, the inner face of which is provided with a resilient'ring 24, serving as a cushion against which one face of the piston I9 may engage. The piston I9 is continuously biased towards a retracted position, by the tension spring 26. One end of this spring is secured to the closure 22, and the other end is attached to screw 21, which in turn is adjustably threaded into the head 26. A key 29 is secured to one side of the tubular member 2|, and engages within a key-way formed in the bushing 23, to restrain the member 2| against rotation.

The means for journalling the assembly Il, to

e enable rotation through 90, includes the following: A fixed shelf or other wall 32 of the machine, forms a support through which the shaft 33 extends. The upper end of this shaft is journalled by means of the roller bearing assembly 34, and its lower end is carried by asimilar journal or bearing. The upper enlarged end 36 of the shaft 33,' cooperates with the' lower face of an annular pad 31, provided upon the lower side of the shell I6. The pad 31 and also the enlarged' end 36, are secured together by means of the threaded ferrule 38. Relative rotation between these parts is prevented by means of the dowel pins 39. 1

'I'he fruit handling device I0 can best be understood by reference to Fig. 5. It consists of a substantially conical cup-shaped member 4|, formed of suitable rigid material such as a stainless metal or metal alloy. The forward end of the member 4I is open, while the smaller end is provided with a central opening 42 and a threaded flange 43. Within the cup-shaped member 4I, there is a. similarlyshaped liner 44,

formed of suitable resilient material, such as resilient vulcanized rubber or .Duprene. The smaller end of liner 44 is provided with a collar 46, which nts within the openings 42. Integral with the collar portion 46 there is also an annular flangeportion 41, which is normally gripped in a manner tobe presently described., The adf' :lacent end'of the hollow member 2|, is provided with an enlarged end portion 46. This end portion is provided with an internally threaded annular flange 49, which is engaged by the threaded flange 43. It will be evident that the rubber flange 41 is "gripped and held between the rear` face of the cupfshaped member 4I, and the forward face of the enlarged end portion 46. An air duct 6I is formed .in the enlarged end portion 46, and is in communication with the interior ofthe the burrs I2. Fol- .and against the rotating burrs. Aextending through the hollow shaft 33 connects liner 44, through the strainer 52 and the opening 53 through collar portion 46.

rIlhe rubber liner 44 is shown provided with two annular edge portions 56 and 51, which are tapered to form relatively thin edges or dips of great lateral flexibility. These tapered portions, or feathered edges, make it possible to afford an air-tight seal with the skin or peel of an article of fruit. As is shown more clearly in Fig. 2. there is normally a substantial spaceo, between the liner 44 and the outer cup-shaped member 4|. As will be presently explained this space enables the vliner to better accommodate itself to the contour of the fruit to establish an initial seal, after which the fruit is drawn into thegcup, and is virtually seated against the rigid cup-shaped member 4 I. Also immediately behind the base of the feathered edge or flange 51, an annular recess 60 can be provided to afford more give when portion 51 is engaged by an article of fruit. y

Pneumatic connections are established so that either suction or pneumatic pressure can be applied to the interior of the liner 44, and pneumatic pressure intermittently applied to the piston I9' to project the devices Thus apipe 6I with a source of .pneumatic suction. The upper end of pipe 6I communicates with a port 62 in pad 31 (Fig. 3), and' this port in turn communicates with a duct 63, and a flexible pneumatic hose 64. This hose 64 in turn connects with the duct I (Fig. 2). A sourceof controlled pneumatic pressure is connected with the duct formed by the space between pipe 6I and shaft 33. Space 61 is in communication with a port 68 formed within the pad 31'(Fig. 3) and port 68 in turn communicates with a duct 69, and from thence with a chamber 1I behind the piston I9 (Figs. 2

and 4).

In the cycle of operationpreviously described with respect to Fig. l, at the time the devices III are projected to engage the sides of an article of fruit, and virtually simultaneously with such engagement, a .suction is applied to the pipe 6I, and thus to the interiors of the liners 44. Assuming that the article of fruit (designated by numeral I in Fig. 5) may be considered of normal size with respect to the size of a fruit handling device, the outer edge portion 56 will be stretched somewhat to a larger diameter, and upon application of a vacuum Itc the interior of the hner 44, the relatively pliable resilient edge portion 56 will be sucked tightly against the skin of the fruit. Thus a tight seal is established with the skin of the fruit, and by virtue of outer atmospheric pressure, the severed half of the fruit is pressed inwardly with respect to the cup-shaped member 4I. In effect this brings the article of fruitto the position illustrated in Fig. 5, in which the gripped half of fruit has a relatively solid bearing upon the inner face of\ the member 4|,

over a substantial annular area, with a portion of the liner being interposed between the fruit and the inner surface of the'metal member 4I. ,65

Venting of air under pressure, which was applied to chambers 1I at the commencement oi the cycle, now permits the devices I0 to retract, and

, mechanism attached to the lower ends of shafts 36, causes rotation of these shafts through as previouslydescribed. Subsequently pneumatic pressure applied to chambers 1| causes devices Il ,to be projected upon the rotating burrs I2, during which operation the halved articles of fruit are securely held againstrotation, and have erly aligned position for engagement.

lthe skin or peel of the Y ative.

oil,` as for example"Dupre`ne.

adequate bearing upon the metal cup-shaped member 4| to avoid any material breakage of the peel. During t juicing operation a halved article of fruit may somewhat better adjust itself to the contour of the cup-shaped member Il, but such adjustments do not in any way interfere with the sealing contact between the liner and fruit. Following the juicing operation and immediately afterthe devices I0 areretracted, momentary pneumatic pressure is applied to the interior of the liners 44, with the result that the peels are expelled.

An adequate grip will be aiorded by the devices described above, even though the size of the fruit being handled by the machine may vary. For example as illustrated in Fig. 7 a considerably smaller article of fruit 2 is shown being gripped by the liner 44. In such instance the seal may be established in part by the smaller tapered edge portion edge portion 56.

Note that in Fig. '7 the edge portion 56 has been drawn inwardly by the applied suction, to contact and grip the adjacent surface of the fruit. This is typical operation and 'it will be evident that when this edge portion is drawn inward it conforms to surface irregularities such as illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 illustrates how the same device can effectively grip a lemon 3, with lthe protruding end 3a of the lemonextending into opening 53.

' The clearance or spacing 58 previously specilied, not only enables the liner t: better accommodate itself to the varying contours of fruit .51, as well as by the larger being handled, to at all times afford a proper seal, r

but also enables these liners to better grip fruit which may not at all times be presented in prop- 'I'hus even though' the fruit may not be perfectly 'aligned they can be engaged and gripped by devices Ill, whereas under similar conditions more complicated mechanical contrivances would be inoper- Breakage of peel is greatly minimized by application of the present invention, and in addition, `the grip of fruit, does not in any way pierce or cut the peel, to permit discharge of peel oil. As is. well known any cutting or scraping of the peel of citrus fruit, or even abrupt bending of the peel,

causes discharge of considerable peel oil, which imparts an objectionable taste to citrusjuice.

In some instances lit is desirable to provide the 'inner faces ofthe rubber liners with ribs, to

minimize possible slippage, particularly where the fruit being handled has been processed with wax or oil. Thus as shown in Fig. 10 the liner 44a has integral ribs 16, 11, 'I8 and 79 formed on its inner face. These ribs facilitate a better grip on the surface of the fruit. Synthetic rubber can also be used to avoid deterioration by wax or I claim: y 1. In a fruit handling machine, a substantially lconical shaped cup formed of rigid material, the

smaller .end o f. said cup having an opening therethrough adapted to, communicate with a source of varying gas pressure, a cup-shaped liner disposed within said relatively rigid cup, said liner being formed of -resilient material like rubber and having a port communicating through the openail'orded upon the halved articles l therethrough to enable ing in-said rigid cup, the side walls of said liner being normally substantially entirely spaced from the inner side surfaces ofthe rigid cup, the liner being also provided with means for attaching the same to the inner end of the rigid cup and affording an annular and flexible fruit engaging lip near the larger end of the rigid cup, whereby when an article of fruit is engaged with said liner and a partial vacuum applied to the interior of the liner, said article' of fruit is gripped and urged in a direction into said relatively rigid cup.

2. In a fruit handling machine, a substantially conical shaped cup formed of rigid material, the largervand forward end of said cup being open and the smaller rear end having an opening extending through the same, a liner disposed within said rigid cup and formed of flexible material. said liner including a through the opening in said rigid cup and also a flange portion extending into engagement with the rear face of said rigid cup, said liner also being formed to provide a exible annular fruit engaging lip.

3. In a fruit handling machine, a substantially conical shaped cup formed of rigid material, the larger end of said cup being open and the smaller end having an opening extending through the same, a liner of resilient material disposed within said cup, said liner being likewise substantially conical shaped but having its side walls substantially entirely spaced from the side walls of the rigid cup, the smaller end collar extending through the opening in the rigid cup and also having a flange for securing the liner to the vrigid cu said liner also affording a pair of annular fruit engaging'lips faced towards the larger end of the rigid cup.

4. In a fruit handling machine, an open faced cup formed of relatively rigid material, a resil-` ient rubber liner for the cup, the cup and the liner having a port therethrough to enable evacuation of the interior of the cup, the liner having a plurality-of annular and exible fruit engaging radially spaced lips for forming a sealed grip uponv the surface of the fruit.

5. In a fruit handling machine, a cup formed of relatively rigid walls, a liner for the cup formed of resilient rubber, the cup and the liner having a port therethrough Jto enable evacuation of the interior of the cup, and means for retractably mounting the cup, the liner having a plurality of annularvandexible lips khaving their edges radially spaced and disposed generally in spaced planes substantially parallel to the face of the cup.

6. In a fruit handling machine, an open faced cup formed oi'"relatlvely rigidmaterial, a liner formed of resilient material and disposed within the cup, the cup and the liner having a port evacuation of the interior of the liner, the liner being also provided with a flexible annular fruit engaging lip normally.

spaced laterally with respect to Vthe adjacent walls of the cup and being disposed near the open face of the rigid cup, whereby when an article collar portion extending e of the liner having a of fruitis engaged with said liner and the interior of the liner evacuated, the lip seals upon the skin of the fruit and the fruit is urged into said cup, and a conduitV connected with said port for evacuation of the liner.

l HAROLD F. WATKJNS. 

